The return of an old standard: HP brings back the RJ45-Ethernet port to many business models

With Wi-Fi 7 and ubiquitous mobile network connection, often facilitated via phones, it seems inconceivable that we used to have to use cables to connect to the internet. Of course, up until the early 2000s, this was the normal life. Every PC and laptop needed to have a modem or RJ45-Ethernet port to be able to connect to the internet.

The modem port is long gone, of course. With RJ45-Ethernet, it is not that simple. Wi-Fi may have taken over as the general purpose internet connection, but a wired connection remains as the most stable and reliable one - as well as secure. Still, most laptops nowadays forgo the Ethernet port. Even many enterprise-focused business laptops do.

HP, one of the largest providers of said business laptops, had removed the RJ45-Ethernet on most of its EliteBooks and also some entry level HP ZBook workstations. Last year's HP EliteBook 845 G11 and HP ZBook Firefly G11 (available on Amazon) for example, two related models from the two HP laptops brands for the enterprise, did not have RJ45.

It seems like HP has changed its mind, as RJ45 returns to the 2025 models - or, at least, to some of them. We recently reviewed the HP ZBook 8 G1i 14, the successor of the HP ZBook Firefly G11, and it does have an RJ45-Ethernet port again. On the other hand, we also reviewed the HP EliteBook 8 G1a 14, which is based on the same basic design as the ZBook. Here, the spaces occupied by the RJ45 Ethernet on the right side of the chassis is simply left empty.

In summary, RJ45 is back on HP business laptops - sometimes. If you need this feature, it is important to check out the configuration you buy beforehand.